Bonita IMNZ is kiwi benefit.
Bonita IMNZ is kiwi benefit.
by media@blueseventy.com
Cameron Brown and Jo Lawn both resumed their number spots respectively on the weekend at the 2008 Bonita Ironman New Zealand in Taupo. As half of the field stepped out in Ironman and blueseventy branded westuits that morning, it became a day of records. Kiwi’s Cameron Brown and Joanna Lawn won in contrasting styles in a day that dawned perfect for the 3.8km swim but worsened with rain and wind affecting the bike and run legs in Taupo today. For 35 year old Brown his seventh victory at Ironman New Zealand was one of his easiest, if not in effort then in his winning margin of 6 minutes 46 seconds over Belgian Fred Van Lierde. After his toe to toe battle with Luke Bell last year, Brown was imperious in victory today took the chance to soak up the atmosphere and interact with the Taupo crowd from a couple of kilometres from home. “Last year I couldn’t relax at all with Luke pushing so hard but this year my Manager Mark Watson said to enjoy the day as much as I could,†Brown said.†And it was a great day, nothing went wrong, I enjoyed a good build up and everything went smoothly on race day and this is such a great place to race. I enjoyed support the entire day, I always do. Kiwis are great at looking after their own athletes and today was no different, the support was fantastic it was nice to share in some of that excitement for the final few kilometres for a change.†The women’s race resembled Brown’s thriller with Bell last year with Lawn having to battle nuggety Australian Kate Bevilaqua all the way, so much so that the Aucklander set a new race record despite the difficult conditions. Lawn entered the Asics run leg of the race with her smallest ever margin over the charging Australian and knew she would be in for a battle after Bevilaqua ran her down in Tauranga at the Half Ironman in January. “She is just so quick, has such a high cadence and never stops coming at you. I learned that at the half and since have heard from everyone how quick she is, probably the quickest Ironman runner around at the moment. But Ironman is about being tough mentally too and today I think I was tough. There was simply no way I was going to lose in those final few kilometres, not in front of this crowd, it was like I was running two feet above the ground such was the support I was getting.†Long after the elite athletes completed the Bonita Ironman the smiles continued and the cheers resounded at the finish line as hundreds of finishers delighted in completing their own Ironman journey. The rain may have dampened the athletes and supporters but spirits stayed high at the finish line long into the night and the midnight cut off before the course was closed. blueseventy's Sue Mellsop, racing in the 40-44 women's Age Group category, produced the fastest women's swim by coming in at an amazing 49:31 minutes. She was followed closely by professional Gina Fergusson in her new helix TST. Bonita Ironman New Zealand – Elite Results Women 1 Joanna Lawn (NZL) 9:16:00 (new race record); 2 Kate Bevilaqua (AUS) 9:20:06; 3 Emi Shiono (JPN) 9:23:26; 4 Bella Comerford (SCO) 9:25:33; 5 Gina Ferguson (NZL) 9:33:29; 6 Fiona Docherty (NZL) 9:41:56; 7 Joanne Bennett (AUS) 9:47:27; 8 Emma Weitnauer (AUS) 10:01:56; 9 Sue Mellsop (NZL) 10:08:27; 10 Ely Franks (AUS) 10:10:37 Men 1 Cameron Brown (NZL) 8:24:49; 2 Freddy Van Lierde (BEL) 8:31:35; 3 Kieran Doe (NZL) 8:33:35; 4 Stephen Bayliss (UK) 8:37:03; 5 Pete Jacobs (AUS) 8:47:03; 6 Hubert Jammerl (AUT) 8:47:36; 7 Richard Ussher (NZL) 8:48:10; 8 Duncan Milne (NZL) 8:56:30; 9 Daniel Eiederreiter (AUT) 8:57:51; 10 Scott Neyedli (SCO) 9:00:17. ... more